Easy Summer Entertaining
ASK ANGELA ~ Angela Goodall
Easy Summer Entertaining
Ahh, the lazy days of summer. The 4th of July, Cherry Festival, Polka Festival and Film Festival have gone by. It is time for us locals sit enjoy our town and the last of the seasonal guests that come when the sun is shining. Your outdoor spaces become your dining room and the fresh vegetables of the season take focus for eats.
Setting the table with colorful dishware, fresh flowers and linen napkins presents a casual atmosphere. The food and drink should follow suit. One of my favorite approaches to cooking for a group in the summer is to take a variety of meats, marinade them in different fruit juices and or vinaigrettes and sear them on the grill. Think basic like lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Chicken with a basic balsamic vinaigrette marinade is juicy and tasty.
Next are the side dishes. Think fresh vegetables, blanched, grilled or raw chopped, mixed with a basic vinaigrette and tossed. A couple of my favorites include corn salad made with fresh corn sheared from the cobb, tossed with dill, Dijon mustard and white wine vinegar or a hearts of palm salad with grilled tomatoes, chives, capers and a balsamic dressing.
All of these will look impressive to your guests. They are easy to make and oh so good. Serve with a simple margarita or Moscow mule (be sure to get the copper mugs) and you have the perfect summer party underway!
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